During the Spring and Autumn Period, once, the King of Chu led an army to attack the strangulation country. The Chu army won again and again until it reached the south gate of the capital of the twisted country. The defenders don't go out to fight, but try their best to defend the city. The Chu army attacked the city several times and failed.
When General Qu Xian of Chu saw this, he said to the king of Chu, "It is imprudent to rely on the emperor to make the princes weak, and to handle things without using tricks. We can use this weakness to win by wisdom. " Then he put forward a plan to the king of Chu. The king of Chu heard this and felt very good, so he did it.
The next day, dozens of Chu soldiers pretended to be woodcutters and went around the capital to collect firewood to lure the enemy. Seeing that the Chu people were burning firewood in the mountains and there was no protection from the Chu army behind them, the generals sent troops to catch them. As a result, thirty unarmed Chu people were caught by them. The officers and men of the stranded country laughed happily when they saw how easy it was to win.
A day later, another group of Chu soldiers disguised as woodcutters went to the mountains to lure the enemy. After the soldiers found out, they went out of the city to catch the Chu people in the mountains without waiting for orders. At this time, Chu soldiers who were lying in ambush at the north gate rushed out together, and the troops stranded in various countries were quickly defeated.
The defenders were defeated, and the city was difficult to defend. In this case, the monarch of the twisted country was forced to sign a humiliating Covenant with Chu at the gate of the twisted country in order to save the country. Since then, the practice of greedy for small things and eating big losses has spread all over the world.
Interpretation of idioms
It is often used to mean that you cannot resist the enemy's force and are forced to sign a humiliating peace treaty.
The source of the story
"Zuo Zhuan Huan Gong Twelve Years": "If you lose, you will return for the alliance at the gate."
Source translation
In the war, the country was defeated, and signed a humiliating Covenant with Chu at the gate and was forced to return.
Fatigue of transportation
Liu Bang, the emperor gaozu of Han Dynasty, rose up against Qin, and Xiao He was his reliable assistant. Liu Bang defeated Xiang Yu, established the Han Dynasty, became emperor, and Xiao He became Ren Xiangguo. In terms of rewards, Xiao He is the first, and it is the first to seal Hou, with 8,000 households in the food city.
Not convinced by this award, a hero said, "We worked hard and fought many battles, but Xiao He didn't work hard and even went to the battlefield. He just plays with his pen and makes comments. Why is the award not good for us? "
Liu Bang replied, "You have all hunted. When hunting, dogs hunt wild animals, and people instruct wild animals to hunt their nests and whereabouts. You can only kill people, but you are just a kung fu dog. And Xiao He command to kill people, is a "job". And although you are brave, most of you are single and fight with me, and dozens of Xiao He's family are fighting in the army. How can it be compared? "
After listening to Liu Bang, these people were convinced and stopped complaining.
Interpretation of idioms
The contribution made in the war, later generally refers to work performance.
The source of the story
Historical Records Xiao Shijia: "Up to now, Xiao He has never worked hard. It only talks about pen and ink, does not fight, and cares about being a minister. Why? "
Source translation
Xiao He has never been to the battlefield. He only plays with pens and makes comments. Why are you against us?